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07/13/2016 07:54 AM EDT


By Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

With assistance from Rachael Bade and Daniel Lippman

NEW THIS A.M.: THE ORIGINAL TRUMP- It's safe to say that most establishment folks didn't expect Donald Trump to not only dominate the Republican presidential race but steamroll all of the other candidates. But there's one longtime Hill denizen who's very familiar with Trump's policy playbook and that's because he's been doing the same thing for years: VP hopeful Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Meteoric rise-- Burgess with the story: Sessions being on Trump's VP shortlist (albeit a longshot) is "a remarkable rise for a man who couldn't win an election in his own party to became chairman of the Senate Budget Committee in 2014. And no matter how the vice presidential ticket shakes out, Sessions will be one of the most prominent faces of the campaign all the way until November." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba5139cb88f6a221e2480a08ac038abe6a57db41835668add01d4

CLOCK TICKS ON IRS IMPEACHMENT QUESTION-The House Freedom Caucus is putting House Speaker Paul Ryan in a tough spot, pushing the GOP leader to make a decision by week's end on a timetable to vote to impeach the IRS commissioner. "Leaders of the House Freedom Caucus presented Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) with a choice on Tuesday: Move our impeachment resolution forward in committee on your own accord, or we will likely force the matter by filing a 'privileged resolution.' In other words, an end run around leadership to the House floor." Rachael with the story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513f2897d38567c97137deca49dda9a9fecaa453cee350cf408

RBG IN HOT WATER-Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is in hot water with both Republicans and Democrats after her stream of Trump comments, calling him a "faker," saying she can't "contemplate" a Trump presidency and suggesting she prefers Hillary Clinton. Democrats are struggling to defend her continued criticisms, with some even suggesting that she's coming too close to crossing the line separating the judicial system and politics, write Burgess and Seung Min.

"We all know that the justices on the Supreme Court have political views. I'm not sure we're well served by them airing them out in the open," said Sen. Chris Murphy. Read their story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba51326179f219120473764f047c35f031d0caaf35757deca41b7

Ryan weighs in- House Speaker Paul Ryan took a shot at RBG during a Tuesday night townhall on CNN, saying her comments are "out of place" and "shows bias." CNN: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513ee50839187f957e8d89fe253efd2a6d21618ef981e9c5152

Ryan also got lots of Trump questions at the townhall from critics and supporters of the bombastic businessman. Roll Call: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513ffeaeebeb1beb6ca1b25186f92cd18b8b27e1f602b03401b

HOUSE PLANS POLICING WORKING GROUP- House Republicans are working with leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus to start a congressional working group aimed at addressing racial tensions between police officers and the black community. The CBC will have "a meaningful role," the group's chairman, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, told Huddle.

Reality check: The bipartisan working group seems like the most the House will do to address a spate of gun violence this summer since lawmakers are poised to leave for recess without taking any action on gun control. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba51381e0348a1ff5f0021cec915c2622922149a2730bb27e6d68

-Cornyn police bill coming today-- From the Dallas Morning News: "Sen. John Cornyn will introduce legislation Wednesday to bolster protections for law enforcement, seeking to respond to the police shootings in Dallas last week that left five officers dead and several more wounded. ...The Back the Blue Act of 2016 would, among other provisions, create a new federal crime for killing a federal judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer, with the offender subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513db78a1956050fabf00b427b7bc2aad7ad3efea082b321f3d

-Democrats hold vigil for Orlando victims-- About 75 House Democrats gathered on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday night to honor victims killed in the Orlando nightclub shooting one month ago. The Washington Blade: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba51359efed804a168ddbd79f6368625161ffc827fe0b1c6237e0

THANKS FOR JOINING US, Wednesday, July 13. You're reading POLITICO's Huddle, your play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. It might be Wednesday in the real world but it's Thursday on Capitol Hill. Hang on guys, we're almost there.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. to wrap up work on the Interior-EPA appropriations bill today with first votes around 1 p.m. The Senate gavels in at 9:30 a.m. with a procedural vote related to the opioid bill at 11 a.m. and a vote on the FAA extension-the last must-do business of the week-at 1:45 p.m.

AROUND THE HILL-- Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, Vice Chairman Joe Crowley, DPCC Chairman Steve Israel and Rep. Robin Kelly hold a 10 a.m. press conference in the HVC-210 alcove following a Democratic caucus meeting.

Reps. Reid Ribble and Cynthia Lummis hold a 10:45 a.m. press conference on a 75-year plan to fix Social Security in the House triangle. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Mia Love will hold a Facebook Q&A at 11 a.m. Go to facebook.com/speakerryan to participate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio holds a press conference on the financial transition tax at 1:15 p.m. in the House triangle.

FIRST IN HUDDLE-Speaker Ryan has picked Philip Kiko to serve as the new House Chief Administrative Officer, according to an announcement going out later today. Kiko was most recently staff director for the House Benghazi Committee and has been working in the House in various positions since 1979.

LYNCH STONEWALLS GOP- Attorney General Loretta Lynch stonewalled GOP lawmakers Tuesday, refusing to answer certain questions about the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server, reports Josh Gerstein.

And then this happened: "Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) injected an unexpected and jarring topic into the hearing by raising President Bill Clinton's false testimony under oath two decades ago in the civil sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Paula Jones. Chabot appeared to be arguing that Secretary Clinton was getting away scotfree with the kind of false testimony that resulted in her husband's impeachment years ago." Josh with the story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba5130d984d8152d4de92829dbe2bb4df4719ebb1e63399c35459

And this too: Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim): The kicker: After Lynch's non answers in testimony, one House R says he misses Eric Holder (!)

FLAKE NOT CONVINCED TRUMP WILL WIN-Sen. Jeff Flake, a frequent Trump critic, told Vanity Fair he doesn't think "there's much worry of a Trump presidency if he doesn't change." More from Flake's sit down with VF: "I want a Republican in the White House, but he can't get there, in my view, saying the things that he's saying. And we wouldn't want him to get there if he continues to say the things that he's saying." The story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513965c1d0a84d53cf0d2429f84da79acf7827bf3d2d4ed64c0

GOP GOES ALL IN FOR SNAPCHAT- The Grand Old Party is getting hip with geofilters and Kevin Robillard has got the scoop: "The social picture- and video-sharing app, most frequently associated with selfie-taking teens, may seem an odd technology for the Republican Party (or politicians in general) to embrace. Still, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has spent years pushing its candidates and campaigns to adopt and use Snapchat, despite the occasional objections of skeptical digital consultants."

Hard work pays off: "GOP Senate campaigns have responded. All of the major ones have used Snapchat ads or geofilters, and 11 of the party's candidates have Snapchat accounts." The story (behind the paywall): http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513d8659b07e1ccaaf3620ec59aa0c78a0a84f5d7a73cf37b59

ZIKA FUNDING FIGHT ESCALATES- Congress is poised to recess without coming to agreement on funding to fight Zika and there's a lot of finger pointing going around. Senate Democrats made a last-ditch effort to push for changes they say are necessary to get their support but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is doubling down on Republicans' "take-it-or-leave-it position on Zika and emphasized that he has stressed the same message in private conversations with President Barack Obama." Seung Min and Jennifer Haberkorn: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513d1808e80ce1790574187c4e773bb710d813d5e6d4b863ce6

BIG DAY FOR SENATE SOFTBALL-- Team Heitkamp/Tester is looking to redeem itself after last year, facing off against Team Donnelly today in a rematch. And a tipster tells me Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, Jon Tester and Joe Donnelly are all expected to attend the game.

IS A DEMOCRATIC COUP AFOOT? Our old pal Manu Raju with the scoop: "Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz appears safe as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee until the November elections after Democrats privately mulled options to replace her, including with Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, according to several sources familiar with the discussions." Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid was apparently the one to float Durbin's name, Manu reports. The full story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513107ab192882ab11eddfaefbba00d4d4bdbc8bd9688b36d87

SPOTTED-- Sen. John Thune stopped by the 201 Bar Tuesday night to say goodbye to one of his favorite reporters, POLITICO's Kate Tummarello, who's moving to Palo Alto soon (h/t Erin Mershon). Pic: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba5134f6cb90a981c6c4e86ffc2deb30190ece890d6a25e6133ce

SPIN WITH SINEMA-Rep. Kyrsten Sinema will be teaching a 7 a.m. spin class at Biker Barre on Thursday to celebrate her 40th birthday. This isn't the first time she's taught at the studio-most recently after the daylong sit-in in the House-and sources say her classes are a "blast" but a real "butt kicking on the bikes," so come ready.

SHOWING OFF THE GOODS-- After a long drought, Republicans finally brought home the congressional baseball trophy this year in a nail-biting finish and took to the House floor Tuesday to show off the trophy. Baseball superstar Sen. Jeff Flake even came over for the victory lap. Roll Call: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba513514289818bcbda78195999f4d11407805404244dc1906713

CLINTON CAN'T GET ENOUGH-- Hillary Clinton will be back on the Hill Thursday, this time to meet with Senate Democrats for their last caucus lunch before the long recess. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1016ea10a8ba5130f936c8011241830a5e9194121738f9dd1a7abbb8fdd3777

DEPARTURE LOUNGE-- Garrett Murch, communications advisor for Sen. Jeff Sessions, is leaving the Hill to take a job at LifeZette as a senior editor.

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Sara Bonjean was the first to answer that Sen. Robert Byrd was the one with the salty opinion on federal spending for Metro in 1969.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Sara with today's question: This former rodeo doctor turned lawmaker's state has a surprisingly low number of escalators. Who is the lawmaker, the state and what is the escalator count? The first person to correctly answer will get a mention in the next day's Huddle. E-mail: hcaygle@politico.com.

HELP ME HELP YOU -- Know any hot gossip, scoops, tips or transitions happening on the Hill? Send 'em my way: hcaygle@politico.com

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